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Resistance Vs. Courage

How often do you get an up-close look at the rewards of courage and the futility of resistance?

My husband and I like to watch a television show called ‘The Profit’. Marcus Lemonis, a very successful businessman, meets with small business owners who are facing bankruptcy or failure. He offers the owners his own money and expertise to save the companies. The deal always includes a clause that states he is in complete control. Of everything.

Basically he teaches the business owners how to run more efficiently, market their ideas on a wider stage, and even change product packaging. Everything about the company is fair game. He knows how to make a promising product take off and become very successful.

In the beginning, all the businesses are excited and hopeful about Mr. Lemonis, his money, and his ideas. But as the new process rolls out, some stand stunned as warehouses are cleaned out, formulas change and balance sheets are scrutinized. It’s a life changing moment. Will they see the project through to success? Or will they push back, angry that the beloved brand is morphing into something they don’t recognize anymore?

I recognize that ‘change is hard’. I understand how new ideas become overwhelming.

But it always surprises Mr. Lemonis. He’s convinced that his new ways will succeed, so he’s just baffled by owners who fight him on basic business decisions that make 100% sense in the marketplace.

Resistance. Why do some entrepreneurs make all the changes easily, while the others balk at even the smallest suggestions? From what I’ve seen, the ones who can adapt to change and new leadership, are the people who are humble and courageous.

Humble people realize they don’t know everything, and are open to new ideas. If there’s a expert ready to teach, they’re ready to learn. It’s not that they value themselves less, they just understand that we can learn a lot from each other. The business owners who lack humility see any suggestion as a personal insult. Instead of studying a new idea and looking for the value in it, they feel ‘ganged up on’ and devalued. Pride tells them to resist any change and reject whoever suggests it.

Humility lives hand-in-hand with courage. It’s a good thing to listen to correction, but it’s an even greater thing to adopt the new direction and implement it. It takes a brave and determined person to step out into something unfamiliar, trusting in something that’s never been done before.

Resistance vs. Courage. Resistance wants to live in the same place, doing the same thing. The hope of success is never enough to take the leap because it’s too comfortable to stay planted.

I never thought much about why we enjoy watching The Profit. But now I think it’s because we have a ringside seat every week to the epic battle between Courage and Resistance. Humility vs. Pride.

It demonstrates that if a small businessman can succeed in life being humble and brave…well…maybe we can too.

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38 thoughts on “Resistance Vs. Courage”

Hi Ceil! I have never watched this program, but it looks fascinating and leads in perfectly with the theme you are highlighting today. As I was reading about the key attribute of humility, I wondered if you have read Hannah Anderson’s phenomenal book, Humble Roots. I recently read it and despite having read other books on the topic, I found hers to be the most challenging and insightful of them all perhaps.

This sounds like an interesting show. It really must take a lot of humility for the business owners to hand over control to someone else when they have poured so much time and energy into doing it their way, but I’m sure trusting the expert works out best in the end. I think that battle of courage vs resistance and humility vs pride is one we all face at times. I like your point that humility is not about valuing ourselves less but about seeing the importance of learning from others.

Hi Lesley! Well, we really enjoy watching it here. It’s fascinating. Mostly the business owners are in dire straits, and that’s why they contact Mr. Lemonis. But even at the risk of their businesses failing, they can still resent and reject the new plans. It’s amazing really.

Hi Linda! Isn’t that show fascinating?? It just seems crazy that people are in so much trouble, but just won’t change. But then again, I’m certainly a lot like that too, just in other places. How patient Mr. Lemonis is sometimes, I know I’d throw up my hands and quit on these owners, but he hangs in there. It’s a real gift.

We have a similar TV program in the UK called “Dragons Den” where people present their business ideas to 5 business people and ask them for money in return for a % share in their companies- e.g. £50,000 for 10% share of my business. They have to present their case, what the company does, its turnover and profits, and projected turnover and profits in years to come. Often, people do not accept advice from the businessmen on how to improve their products, marketability, packaging etc …

I suspect they become too attached to their “baby” and resent advice from the experts. As you say, resistance versus courage.

But then … are we not like that towards God? Do we not resist Him rather than have the courage to let Him run our lives in full trust that He cares for us? Do we not say: “Thy will be done … as long as it is what I want!”

Hi Victor! Oh yes, you’re right on the button. I really do think that I am like that with God many times. What I am doing isn’t working, but hey, I’m not changing it! That would be too scary.

We also have a show much like Dragon’s Den, it’s called Shark Tank. I wonder if ours is based off of yours? The same thing can happen, as you said. Some are happy to take direction, some are not. And there’s a lot of money at stake too. Interesting comment as always Victor.

How fun! Thank you so much for checking! I know that there are a few shows in the US that have been based on programs established in other countries. Not sure which was first, Dragon or Shark, but it is a great show.

Hi Ceil, Dragon’s Den was the first show to air and has been extremely successful since its inception. This is a CBC show. Shark Tank is a CTV show. Both networks are here in Montreal. Although I prefer Dragon’s Den, I do enjoy both shows. 🙂

Hi TC! Thank you for your comment, I really appreciate your encouragement. It is a great show, my husband and I always enjoy watching. I think Mr. Lemonis is a saint sometimes. He puts up with a lot of resistance!

Humility always looks good. I once worked with a guy who was consistently humble. He and I were disagreeing about something irrelevant…ha ha…and he just let it go, like you’re right, even though I wasn’t and he did it with this cool calm humility that made me feel like I won, was wrong anyway, but it didn’t matter. He looked like a superstar to me at that moment. I don’t know if I put that into words that make sense, but humility always wins…and seeing it is like seeing a view from a mountaintop. Being is like…I’m not sure I know. 😉

Hi Sandi! I just met a really humble lady this weekend. She was so willing to help me set up for my talk, and would go and try to find anything I needed. So soft-spoken. Never took the lead. I wonder if she knows how beautiful her attitude is? I’m guessing she doesn’t even think about that.

Probably like the man you met too. Yes, humility does win, even though it seems like the humble get run over. I know what you mean about being humble though. It’s definitely a struggle!
Blessings,
Ceil

“Humility lives hand-in-hand with courage.” I like that! It’s so true, and something to remember and strive for. I’ve seen parts of this show, and I agree, we can draw much from the principles. Good things to ponder and apply, Ceil. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing with us. Have a blessed week!

I think I would really enjoy this show! Change is hard, and sometimes these business owners may be in trouble in the first place because they are afraid of change.
I had an old boss who used to tell us all the time – “the only thing consistent in life is change”

This show sounds great, Ceil! Thank you so much for sharing about it! In response to your question, the funding is going slowly, but I am very grateful for everyone who has contributed to help! God bless you, and thank you so much for all you share and for just being…you!

This is so true on a spiritual level, too, Ceil. If we follow what God has instructed us in His Word, even when it feels uncomfortable or even scary, He can work wonders in and through us. But to do so, we, like the successful entrepreneurs, must humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand and allow Him to take us where He wants us to go. Great post, Ceil. I will have to look for that program. It sounds interesting.

Hi Ceil. I have never heard of this show. The courage vs resistance to change though reminds me of a show I’ve seen before where a guy helps motel owners improve their motels and boost their business. Some are not very open to help. To be honest, I’m not always open to help either in some areas (depends on what it is), and domineering people sometimes intimidate me. 🙁 May we approach all things with humble hearts! Blessings and hugs!

Hi Trudy! There seem to be many different shows with the same theme. You make a great point about not being intimidating, because that alone can push people away. It’s hard to be courageous when you feel disrespected.

I have never heard of or watched this show, but it sounds so interesting. And, I love the spiritual insight you have shared on the things you are learning through it. I remember a minister talking one time about having a teachable spirit…that thought always stuck with me and sounded so inviting to me. I think of our dear Lord Jesus and how the Bible says He “learned obedience through the things He suffered”. It is so hard to imagine Him needing to learn anything, but the human side of Him had to learn to come into obedience to Divine will. Just like we must do. Thank you so much for such edifying thoughts tonight…I always leave your blog inspired and encouraged! God bless you, sweet friend. 🙂

What a great analogy here Ceil. I had not heard of this show. Very interesting. Funny though how we can relate to even a TV show and also turn it into a very interesting spiritual lesson for us. I appreciate you sharing this. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

My husband watches The Profit all the time and I hear it in the background as I work. lol I love this message, and it resonates so deeply with us all really. I think I would be the owner who resists. I don’t like change and sometimes I KNOW it’s for the best, and I still resist it. I get it. I really do.

Hi Chris! It’s great to be back, and to get reconnected with faithful blog friends like you 🙂

It’s a great show, and I just watched it this weekend with my daughter and son-in-law. Great stuff. A wonderful model for me in being able to change with grace.
We’ll work on our resistance together, okay?
Weekend blessings,
Ceil

Hi Ceil! I’m sorry to be so late to read, comment, and share this intriguing post. I’ve not heard of the show you mentioned, then again I don’t have cable/dish nor do I watch much television. I’d never thought about humility and courage being linked–it does make sense, though. To learn from others does seem to require a degree of humility. Hmm….